Dani California

Have you ever been in the situation when something happened that changed your plans around? And in that exact moment you think that this is unfair, and why did it have to happen? And after a few moments of anger you calm yourself down and start to think more closely about the Why's and that maybe there was a reason for this to happen, as maybe you aren't meant to do it the way it was planned, but doing it differently and taking another path?

Well, this kinda happened with the next part of my trip. I was meant to meet my cousin in LA and we'd planned to head up North to Vancouver. But things changed and my cousin had to cancel on me. So, I was there, thinking, "And now what?" How am I going to handle this situation? I have more than one week inbetween arriving in LA and actually having to be in Vancouver. And I'm never going to find someone who will join me on such short notice. May I add that it has been quite difficult already to get all these people who are joining me together.

So, inbetween all this trying to find alternatives I was in contact with someone I knew while having lived 9 months in LA.. We'd planned to meet up for diner or such. Not more I guess. As I hadn't planned on staying in LA for more than 3 days. So me, still very upset about the change of my plans - telling like everyone I know about this - I also told her ... and what did she say ... "Why don't you just stay with us? We have a spare room. I could take some days off and we could tour around locally."

In an instant, everything can change for the better. I now can stay with Teresa and her husband Derek and their daughters Teri and Liana. And I am truly grateful and happy that I get to do that. I am really looking forward to meet you guys again :) Thank you for your hospitality!!

And really spontaneously decided, I'll also be heading down to San Diego for 2 days with a girl from Ireland, Claire. She's on the "Southern Sun" trip with Trek America too. Unexpected things happening now :)

So, there you have it. The reason why things changed. I do believe now that it had to happen this way. That I needed to have this week off. For once not traveling around on a very tight schedule.
We may not always seem to understand why things happen the way they do. But maybe the next time something like this happens to you, you'll think back to my story and you'll reflect on this and remember that the paths you had planned on taking are not always the paths you need to go.

Southern Sun

What was it again that Forrest Gump said ... "Life's like a box of chocolate, you never know what you get." ... Or another picture coming up in my head ... a jar full of sweets, different kinds of colours and sizes and shapes, you grabbing in, not knowing yet what you'll get, in anticipation and wonder about what to expect ...

But enough metaphors for now. What I am actually talking about is the next part of my trip, called "Southern Sun", leading a group full of strangers from New York to Los Angeles. A group mixed up with people from all over the world, like the UK, Ireland, Korea, Switzerland :) and the United States. A road taking all of them from one coast to the other - crossing countries.

I am already wondering and waiting in anticipatioin to actually see what's in the jar. To see who I am going to spend these 3 weeks with. Enjoying and experiencing the Southern Sun!

The Carolinas

Oh man! Now that was some real hard work to get that woman to join me for any part on my trip. *lol* But after loads of convincing from my part - and everyone who knows me, knows too, that I can be very, VERY, insistent and persuasive :) - she's made up her mind and is now joining me for "The Carolinas". Thanks a bunch Liane ;)

We're going to meet up in Charlotte, NC, then heading to the Smoky Mountains, paying a short visit to Winston Salem on our way there. Then, after having crossed all that smoke we're heading straight to where the water is. Down South to Charleston, SC. From there up the coast, passing beautiful Wilm - again :) - and off to The Outer Banks of North Carolina. Our round trip shall be closed after having passed Raleigh and Chapell Hill, heading back to Charlotte again.

Then it will be Good-Bye Liane, and Hello Trek America :) Wanna know more? Check back soon!

Wilmington, here we come!

How lucky am I to have found someone who's going to join me for a few days to the most lovely place on the North Carolina Coast: Wilmington.

So, thank you Becca from Meansville, Georgia, to be open enough and taking that trip with me! A complete (or maybe not so complete) stranger that I am to you. But I am most positive that we are going to have a great time. Seeing that we at least have one topic that we can talk about the whole time: Southern Gothic Productions :) *lol*

I am already looking forward to be strolling along the lovely beaches, the picturesque streets, sitting in a café and just enjoying the fact of Being! Breathing! Living! And I havent' forgotten the beautiful Airlie Gardens, Becca ;) We're going to go there too, for sure!

So, what else is there to say, except, that we are really excited for this to happen. And maybe, just maybe, some more SoGoers might cross our paths in beautiful Wilm :)

How to define ...

Today's Blog is going to be rather dry. But I was curious to know what Wikipedia had to say about the meaning of roads and travels. And I find it quite interesting to see where some words originate from.

In the next Blogs I will start gettin' more detailed about the different parts (and roads) I'll be taking ... starting with The Carolinas :) So, check back soon.

Meanwhile, happy trails to everyone!


Für alle, die's lieber Deutsch mögen, heute endlich auch mal einige Worte auf Deutsch. Ein paar Definitionen zu den Begriffen "Strasse" und "Reise". Interessant zu erfahren, woher einige Begriffe eigentlich kommen

In den nächsten Blogs werde ich etwas detaillierter auf meine einzelnen Reisetappen eingehen. Angefangen bei den beiden Carolina Staaten im Südosten.

Also, schaut doch bald wieder mal rein.


Road

A road is an identifiable route, way or path between places. Roads are typically smoothed, paved, or otherwise prepared to allow easy travel; though they need not be, and historically many roads were simply recognizable routes without any formal construction or maintenance.

Travel

Travel is the change in location of people on a trip through the means of transport from one location to another. Travel is most commonly for recreation (as part of tourism or to visit friends and family), for business or for commuting; but may be for numerous other reasons, such as migration, fleeing war, etc. Travel may occur by walking or human-powered mode, or through mechanical vehicles, either as private or public transport.
Travel may be local, regional, national or international. In some countries, non-local internal travel may require an internal passport, while international travel typically requires a passport and visa.

The word originates from the Middle English word travailen ("to toil"), which comes from the Anglo-French word travailler ("travail"). A person who travels is called a traveler (US) or traveller (UK).

Strasse

Eine Straße (von lat. [via] strata „gepflasterter Weg”) ist ein Verkehrsbauwerk, welches als Grundlage für radgebundene Fahrzeuge vorwiegend dem Transport derer Nutzlasten von einem Ort zum anderen dient. Daher ist die Verbindung zwischen den zwei Orten idealerweise direkt. Praktischerweise folgt der Straßenverlauf aber einer Hierarchie (Straßennetz) und wird zudem von der Geländeform beeinflusst. Die Straße erstreckt sich hauptsächlich und zweckgemäß in einer Dimension (Länge) und nähert sich überwiegend dem natürlichen Verlauf des Geländes an, sofern die entsprechend der vorgesehenen maximalen Fahrzeuggröße und -geschwindigkeit angemessenen Krümmungsradien der Straße einen oberflächennahen Verlauf zulassen. Ansonsten wird sie über Tunnels oder Brücken geführt. In Breite und Tiefe (Fundament) ist sie ebenfalls an Menge (Verkehrsaufkommen) bzw. Vernetzungsgrad und Gewicht der vorgesehenen Fahrzeuge angepasst. Verwaltungstechnisch ist eine Straße ein Landverkehrsweg

Reise

Der Begriff Reise (v. althochdeutsch: risan = aufstehen, sich erheben) bedeutet im Sinne der Verkehrswirtschaft die Fortbewegung einer oder mehrerer Personen über eine längere Zeit zu Fuß oder mit öffentlichen bzw. nicht öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln außerhalb des Wirtschaftsverkehrs, um ein Reiseziel zu erreichen oder mehrere Orte bis zur Beendigung der Reise am Ausgangsort kennenzulernen (Rundreise). Im fremdenverkehrswirtschaftlichen Sinne umfasst die Bezeichnung Reise die Summe der beiden Phasen „Ortsveränderung“ und Aufenthalt. Die verwendeten Verkehrsmittel bilden hierbei eine Gesamtheit: Die Reisekette (Beispiel: Bus– Flugzeug– Straßenbahn– Taxi).

Approximativity

Finally I managed to put up a map here that show's the approximate route I am planing to take. Though, this is still subject to change. As we all know, life can't either be planed out completely. And this makes it all even better and more beautiful I think. To cross paths with the unknown. Experiencing the small and surprising little things that cross our ways. I am looking forward to those :)

I'll put up some detailed maps of the different stages soon.
Danielle

For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.
I travel for travel's sake.
The great affair is to move.

~ Robert Louis Stevenson ~